Top 8 Must-Have Home Automation Devices

One of the best approaches to achieve a low cost and well-integrated home automation environment is to focus on a system that centers around a single smart home controller and multiple less intelligent, and therefore less expensive devices. This post examines some of the important benefits of home automation for many users and recommends a single controller-centered product or peripheral in each category based on features, reliability, and price. You can pick up all of the top 5 recommended devices together for under $300, including the required controlling hub.

1. Home Automation Controller

Criteria for a top rated home automation controller during this epic battle of standards includes: 1) multiple network support, including Z-Wave, Zigbee, and Bluetooth 2) ability to operate standalone without an internet connection 3) IFTT (if this then that) support 4) no monthly fees, and 5) an available and well-documented developer API. For a description of these criteria reference the Home Automation Controller Feature Term Glossary.

The reasonable price of the SmartThings Hub, multiple protocol support, IFTTT integration and growing local control interface capabilities make this a prime contender in the Home Automation Controller market. Protocol support for Z-Wave, Zigbee, and Bluetooth LE (future) decrease the likelihood of this controller becoming obsolete the day after you purchase it. The backup battery, Apple Watch, and Amazon Echo support are a nice bonus. See why you may still want to consider a UPS as part of your system even if your controller includes a battery backup.

The SmartThings SmartTiles web app

Many of the hubs automation triggers are still able to operate if your internet connection is lost, however, you will not be able to directly control your devices from your mobile device without an internet connection, even if you are connected directly to your home network.

Some of the most useful capabilities for the SmartThings hub come from user-developed content. The user-developed and free SmartTiles web client, for example, is simple to install and provides a clean home dashboard interface. The user-developed CoRE (Community’s own Rule Engine) provides a generic rule engine capability that is glaringly missing from the base system. Unfortunately, since Samsung does not currently allow this user developed capability to execute on the device itself, this flexible rule execution capability comes with a several second cloud execution latency price.

The limited local control capability, occasional operations glitch, and confusing SmartThings interface are the primary drawbacks of this device. For more details, see Darwin’s Den’s Samsung SmartThings Hub V2 Review.

2. Smart Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector

When it comes to protecting your family, pets and possessions, reliability and a reputable name stand out as critical features. There are several smart home products in this category that look impressive and can even speak to you with a friendly voice, but for a capability this important, we favored devices that were trouble-free and inexpensive enough to allow purchasing several for your home.

This First Alert ZCombo Z-Wave combination Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm is affordable and is manufactured by a trusted name in home safety. Relax with peace of mind that you will be alerted if smoke or carbon monoxide is detected while you’re away. An absolute necessity if you have pets. The ZCombo provides status on remaining battery levels; Now you can tell when to preemptively change backup batteries instead of being awakened in the middle of the night with those annoying low battery reminder beeps.

The biggest negative to the ZCombo is that it doesn’t provide a hard-wired power option and doesn’t integrate with the other First Alert/BRK installed sensors. In practice, I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the battery life of our ZCombo, which shows as 93% after a year and a half of operation. As discussed in the reader feedback though, battery life prediction on these devices can be a bit inaccurate, particularly when using Lithium and NiMh batteries. Regardless of battery type, for safety critical devices, it’s best to proactively replace batteries on a regularly scheduled cycle. You may still get additional service life from these batteries in less critical home devices.

3. Water / Flood Sensor

Although not as devastating as a fire, a burst water heater or kitchen pipe can cause a fair amount of damage to your flooring, walls, and furnishings. For those in condominiums and townhomes, there also may be liability concerns as well. As a minimum, install water sensors at your water heater and under your kitchen sink for the best bang for the buck protection. Check with you insurance company to find out if they offer discounts or credits for installing leak detection devices.

The Everspring Z-Wave flood sensor is solidly built and suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. Fortunately, we haven’t yet had a leak to fully put our unit to the test, but every time I trigger it by wetting the contacts, it does its job. Our batteries so far have lasted over a year, and levels have remained near 100%. For a few dollars less, Lowes carries the equivalent Utilitech branded version of the Everspring sensor.

In addition to its Z-Wave interface, the Everspring flood sensor also provides a built-in 60dB audible alert. It’s not overly loud and may be difficult to hear from the garage or other remote location, but it is comforting to know that there is an additional means to receive leak notifications other than your smart home hub.

4. Light Control Switches and Dimmers

The usefulness of remotely controllable switches is about as limitless as the varieties of switches that are available. Program your outside lights to turn on and off while you’re away to give the appearance that you are home. Turn your porch lights on before heading home after dark. Add a remote dimmer to your inside hall lights and program them to turn on as a nightlight in the evening for added safety and security.

EDIT 8-April-2016: The HomeSeer switches have arrived, and it looks like they may have de-throned the GE’s mentioned below as the best bang-for-the-buck switches.

Although very similar from a look and feel perspective to their GE counterparts, these new switches include double-tap, triple-tap, and hold functionality for both up and down presses, as well as “instant status” capabilities. The dimmer also sports a handy 7 level dim indicator display.

Contact HomeSeer support if you observe an issue with the HS-WS100+ on/off switch toggling after a normal on press.

The GE / Jasco line of wall Z-Wave wall switches are reliable and provide a consistent installation interface. The 12724 dimmer is CFL and LED compatible. Ours worked well on our dimmable LED bulb with no noticeable hum. The GE 12723 auxiliary / add-on switch can be added to both the 12722 and the 12724 switches for 3-way and 4-way switch setups. The add-on / auxiliary switch requires one of the GE main switches and a traveler wire.

Although the GE switches do not support instant status capabilities as do the higher quality and 50% more costly Cooper Aspires, I’ve found in practice that the notification delays to my hub from the GE switches are on the order of fractions of a second and are negligible. For my purposes, very low-latency status back from the switch is not a critical feature.

5. Energy Monitoring Switch

“We believe that electricity exists, because the electric company keeps sending us bills for it…” – Dave Barry

In addition to allowing you to control power to your appliances and devices via timers, rules, and remote manual operation, by having at least one portable energy monitoring switch in your home, you can gain an understanding of how much energy your devices are using. Is your refrigerator energy-efficient compared to the latest models? Is your old cable modem an energy vampire?

Top pick: Aeon Labs DSC06106-ZWUS – Z-Wave Smart Energy Switch

The Aeon Labs DSC06106-ZWUS – Z-Wave Smart Energy Switch is one of the least expensive switches on the market – with or without energy monitoring capabilities. Our switches continue to operate reliably after several months of operation. Their corded design is convenient for hard to reach receptacles and ensures that the other outlets won’t be blocked.

We were appalled at the power utilization of our two air purifiers, and once we were done measuring the power usage of our appliances, we moved our switches back over to the purifiers and scheduled them to only run in the evening during the much-reduced time-of-use rates. With the cost savings on the air purifiers alone, these low-cost switches will pay for themselves in just over a year.

If you’re looking for a smaller and more discreet option for a plug-in energy monitoring switch, or perhaps a Z-Wave Plus alternative, the updated Aeon Labs Aeotec Z-Wave Smart Switch 6 is among the best and smallest in its class, and also includes a USB charging port. At $50 it is also one of the more expensive energy monitoring switches available, but Amazon does offer discounted multi-pack options.

6. Smart Home Thermostat

Programmable thermostats have been around for decades, and even the simplest of these devices have served the needs of most users. Now, with the built in capabilities of some thermostats, or by using the power of IFTTT recipes for others, it is possible to boost the performance and energy efficiency of your home HVAC system to a new level. Adjust your home temperature to account for the effects of humidity or outside temperature. Set up a rule to adjust your temperature or send a notification reminder to open your doors and windows if the outside air is at a more comfortable temperature than the inside.

The Zen thermostat is a simple, yet striking device that doesn’t pretend to be more than it is at the expense of added and unnecessary complexity. I have not yet had a chance to personally test the Zen, but chose it over popular and very capable runners up Nest, Honeywell Lyric, EcoBee, and PEQ due to its simple approach, price, device compatibility, and minimalist styling.

For those that feel that the Nest and Lyric have taken the tired analogy of the round analog thermostat beyond the point of practicality, the Zen thermostat is a refreshing alternative. At $199, the Zen is not inexpensive, but is cheaper than the Gen 3 Nest and EcoBee. If SwannOne can manage to drop the price on the Zen by just a little, they may have a best seller on their hands.

The Zen is OpenHome certified and its Zigbee interface is compatible with a growing list of home automation controllers, including SmartThings, SwannOne, and Securifi’s Almond 2015 and Almond+. Unlike many thermostats, a C-wire is not required for operation, thanks to its 4 AA batteries. Zen advertises a battery life of 2 years without external power. For those that want a permanent power source, but are reluctant to go through the hassle of adding a C-wire, the innovative $30 Venstar Add-A-Wire promises to make this a fairly simple process.

SwanOne states they are working to add Apple HomeKit compatibility to the Zen. You had us at OpenHome certified.

A few words on the Nest: I’ve had a love-hate relationship with our Nest thermostat. The Nest is an aesthetically pleasing device, with an elegant and reliable web and mobile interface, and a physical interface that feels like a piece of jewelry. When it comes to its intended purpose for me though, I believe its learning capabilities at the expense of basic manual controls can actually lead to increased home energy usage, unless you also leverage your home automation controller to further automate your system. With the Nest’s 60 minute minimum interval limit in it’s manual program, it is not practical to pre-cool or pre-heat your home for just a few minutes before time-of-use rates kick in. That said, the Nest is compatible with a large number of home automation controllers, and I do recommend it if you are willing to pay its relatively high price for this otherwise very polished and impressive product.

The Nest has previously had a unique discriminator with its ingenious C-Wire workaround, but now the option of adding a Venstar Add-A-Wire may eliminate that advantage for many.

7. Smart Doorbell

It’s puzzling to me that this singular button that can trigger entry into your home has been so neglected by smart home automation device developers. As a minimum, I would like to receive an alert, text message or email if someone is pressing my doorbell so that I can quickly view my front door security camera or turn on my porch light. Did I receive a UPS package? Is someone with ill-intent attempting to verify that I am away? Enhanced automated responses might include turning on an inside light to give the appearance that I am home or taking snapshot security camera images.

Now, finally, the doorbell is starting to receive the attention it deserves. In the not so distant past, the initiated home automation enthusiast needed to rig up a custom device to provide doorbell alerts using a dry contact bridge and relay. Now there are more complex and expensive doorbells out there such as SkyBell and Ringthat include cameras and intercom systems, but frankly I really do not care for how bulky and obtrusive these devices are. I want my home entry to be clean and welcoming with a simple door bell. I still may have a discree security camera in the corner of the entryway ceiling, but it doesn’t scream “I’m watching your every move” to friends and family as does a camera-equipped doorbell.

I really wanted to like the Aeon Labs Aeotec ZW056 Z-Wave Plus Doorbell Gen5, but after evaluating it, I found that the button itself feels a little cheap and is frankly just not something that I am comfortable placing by our front door from an aesthetic perspective. Despite the glass face of the doorbell, the white plastic housing just looks out of place in our entry. A metal housing – ideally with standard brushed nickel or bronze metal finish – would be much more appropriate. I would also still like my conventional wired doorbell chime to ring. I do not want to be forced to rely on the battery powered button to work perfectly every time.

I do however still recommend this doorbell device for one key feature: the doorbell speaker itself provides a unique capability to play customized audio clips in response to events and triggers in your home automation system. I am currently using this speaker connected to the SmartThings Hub to play audio clips such as “water heater leak detected”, “front window is open”. For a full review of the Aeotec Smart Doorbell and details and links on speaker customization, see the DarwinsDen.com Aeon Labs Aeotec ZW056 Z-Wave Doorbell Review.

EDIT 11-April-2016: While this device worked well in my initial testing, I am currently experiencing an occasional reliability issue for very quick doorbell presses. I have heard reports from others of similar issues, however it doesn’t seem to affect everyone. The device may be sensative to the specifics of the doorbell transformer and perhaps the doorbell button itself.

While Ring and the Aeotec Doorbellmay work acceptably for many, neither are ideal for my situation. I just recently obtained the Nexia DB100Z Doorbell Sensor and it currently satisfies my requirements for the top pick in this category. I only wish that there was an option to power this device off of the low-voltage doorbell transformer itself instead of its two AAA batteries.

Aside from Nexia, HomeSeer, and the SmartThings Hub, I haven’t seen that the DB100Z has yet been tested with and/or made compatible with other Z-Wave capable controllers, but I’m sure there will be drivers available soon for these controllers. For more information on this device and SmartThings device handler details, see the DarwinsDen.com Nexia DB100Z review.

8. Security Camera

The security camera is a worthy home component with or without a complementary home automation system. The number one criteria for top pick for me in this category is minimal to no monthly fees. Whether it be for home automation services or streaming video, monthly service fees for cloud-based services can quickly consume several times the amount you spend on the devices themselves. The second criteria for this category pick is the ability for outdoor operation.

Together, the Samsung SNH-E6440BN SmartCam HD Outdoor Camera and the Samsung SmartCam HD Pro Camera provide a common camera user integration and operation experience, and support both indoor and outdoor operation. Both cameras support local microSD storage allowing several days of video storage without a monthly service fee. The SNH-E6440BN outdoor camera allows for remote mounting of the unit’s interface box, eliminating the need for an outdoor power outlet, and providing increased physical security of its video archive data. For those with a SmartThings Hub, Samsung will soon be delivering fully integrated camera motion alerts – although likely only with the pro model.

With its weatherproof operation and internal video storage eliminating the need for costly monthly service fees for many, the SmartCam narrowly edged out its strongest evaluation competitors, the Nest Cam, Dropcam, and Belkin HD+.

Unfortunately, every camera in this category has its drawbacks, whether it be price, outdoor operation, or costly monthly service fee. My biggest issue with the SmartCam is its inability to send snapshot images along with email motion notifications. Fingers crossed for a firmware update from Samsung to correct this glaring deficiency. (Edit 23-Dec-2016: The snapshot email issue has been resolved in the latest camera firmware release).

Low-price option: I did find the $90 Belkin HD+ performance to be very acceptable for the price. Its motion alerts with email snapshots worked well in my testing. I believe the Belkin HD camera would operate acceptably outdoors under an eave or covered patio. Belkin does offer an optional cloud-based video storage capability, but for those that refuse to pay a monthly service fee, and are comfortable with just email snapshot alerts, the Belkin may be a good, low-cost option.

I have all these already. What’s next?

The above picks I feel are in general high value for the average home environment from a safety, security, liability and cost-savings perspective, without being overly complex and perhaps more importantly without adding significant additional security risks or general annoyances to the average homeowner. So what if you have integrated all of the must-have home automation devices, or just don’t agree with my must-have picks, and are looking for the next device to complement your system?

After the must-have picks, the following will be great additions for many, but these devices may not all be worthwhile for all users and may come with their own complexities, annoyances, and potentially additional home security concerns.

9. Home Automation garage door opener

Most garage door openers could be considered simple home automation devices to begin with, so why would you want to add additional smart garage door opener controls?

If you’re like me and have countless times driven out of your neighborhood wondering if you had left the garage door open. With this device and a corresponding Z-Wave capable controller, you can check on the status of your garage door while you are away, and close it if it is open.

As an additional means of entering the home if you do not have your key or a standard garage door opener, but do have your phone or as an additional or emergency means to grant friends or trusted neighbors access into your home or garage while you are away.

If you want to receive notifications when your garage door is opened or closed, or you want to receive a notification if your garage door is currently open during a certain time of day or night. For example, you might want to receive an alert or SMS Text message as a reminder if it’s after midnight and your garage door is still open.

So that you can add additional smarts to your system such as voice control, or to define rules on when to automatically open or close your door.

While there are other options such as the Chamberlain MyQ and Garageio that don’t require a separate home automation hub, the GD00Z provides a generally lower cost, reliable option that is easily integrated into existing home automation systems. The added advantage of the GD00Z is that you are then able to leverage the power of your existing home automation system to link user defined rules, alerts, voice commands, scenes, and potentially even integrate IFTTT recipes. Last but not least, with the GD00Z you are able to utilize your existing home automation controller software and do not need to install yet another application on your mobile devices. For a full review, see Darwin’s Den: Linear GD00Z Z-Wave Garage Door Opener Review.

10. Door/Window Sensor

Door and window sensors rank perhaps right up there with security cameras when most people think about components of home security systems. These sensors let your controller know when a door or window is open or closed in order to trigger corresponding alerts, messages or actions. Aside from the obvious security benefits for intrusion detection, they can also allow you to quickly verify that all of your doors and windows are closed – and give you reminder alerts if a door or window remains open after a certain time at night.

These sensors are relatively inexpensive, and there are quite a few on the market to choose from. While they definitely have their place in the more general home automation arena, not everyone wants to worry about alerts when opening windows and doors (or configuring a home/away configuration on their systems), or replacing the batteries on these devices.

While the Fibaro Modern Miniature Z-Wave Door/Window Sensor may be one of the more expensive options available, door and window sensors are typically one of the most visible part of a home automation and security system – and their aesthetics are an important consideration for many. The Fibaro is one of the smallest and most discreet products in its class, and is available in seven colors to best match your door or window frame.

I generally recommend Z-Wave devices unless you are certain that your controller has been tested with specific Zigbee device variant, but the latest Zigbee Gen2 Iris Contact Sensor has worked well in my testing, and is comparable in size to the Fibaro – at less than half the price. If you’re ok with a white sensor, have an Iris or SmartThings Hub, or you know that your controller supports it, I highly recommend this Iris device.

Sensative has just announced the release of their new ultra-thin Z-Wave+ Strips door and window sensor for the US market, and I’ve been quite pleased with this sensor in my testing. At $60, it’s a bit more expensive than most other contact sensors, but my personal preference now would be to use Strips sensors instead of other door and window sensors for installations where these sensors can be appropriately installed and where aesthetics is of prime concern – or where weather resistence is required. For a full review of the Strips sensor see the DarwinsDen.com Strips Z-Wave Door and Window Sensor Review.

11. Smart Door Lock

Smart door locks are an obvious device to consider for your smart home, and there have been several new door lock gadgets introduced over the last year or so, each with their own benefits and issues. Along with the promise of added convenience and safety, these devices also have the potential to open the door (pun intended – again, sorry) to additional security concerns. Your choice for a smart home lock should not be taken lightly. It’s bad enough that your digital information security can be hacked, but the idea that your physical security system can also be hacked is a scary proposition. Similar to our thoughts on smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, reliability and a reputable name stand out as critical features for these important devices.

Both the Schlage Connect Z-Wave Deadbolt and Kwikset 910 Z-Wave SmartCode Deadbolt are affordable and manufactured by trusted names in physical home security. Both devices allow for not only remote key-less lock/unlock control from your smartphone, but each include a keypad entry as well. If you don’t care for the keypad and want to save a little money, Kwikset also offers the 910 Z-Wave model without a keypad. Updating only the deadbolt on your door provides that extra peace of mind while you are sleeping that the other knob or lever lock on the door will do it’s job regardless of the status of your digital home security system.

There’s a decent chance your other home locks are already manufactured by Schlage or Kwikset in which case you’ll likely want to continue with the same make so that you can have your cylinders all keyed to the same physical key as your other home locks.

The August Smart Lock may be worth taking a look at if you’re not willing to replace your entire deadbolt mechanism, but it is currently not supported by most of the popular home automation controllers, and I think many will find its non-integrated look to appear a little out of place on an elegant front door.

12. Voice Controller

I’ve found that the desire to have voice control over smart home devices can be a very personal thing. For some, it’s up there near the top as far as requirements go, while others view it as a bit gimmicky, terribly annoying when the command is misinterpreted, and mostly only useful as a means to impress friends. For me, while I don’t consider it to be a must-have for everyone, I do find using voice control convenient at times when I can’t find a remote, or have my hands full.

The Amazon Echo, Echo Dot and Tap are popular and easy top picks for this category, not only due to their compatibility with so many home controllers and with IFTTT, but these Amazon devices also have a wide range of functions outside of the home automation arena, including streaming music and on-demand news and weather reports – all using a surprisingly high-quality speaker system and generally impressive far-field voice recognition technology. Although the Echo and Tap have only WiFi and Bluetooth interfaces, linking them with most home automation systems (see the Home Automation Controller Comparison Table for a list of popular Echo compatible controllers) is generally a very simple process, allowing voice control over all your Z-Wave, Zigbee, and/or Insteon devices.

After using the Echo in my home now for awhile, I would be reluctant to give it up. I have been impressed with how well the Echo’s voice assistant, Alexa handles voice recognition in a noise-cluttered and echo-prone tile floor environment, but it does sometimes still get annoying when she misses or misinterprets the occasional voice command that sounded clear to me.

Since Alexa currently does not provide feedback as to what smart home automation devices actually end up getting controlled with any given command, I recommend only enabling home automation devices that you actually know have been commanded such as lights and TV’s – or recommend that you link an obvious indicator like a strobe or dedicated light to the device in question. Certainly, only enable devices that you don’t mind being turned on or opened accidentally. Granted, I’m sure some issues can be corrected with better device naming conventions on my end, but more than once I had my hallway thermostat temperature increased after asking Alexa to set the hallway light level. I briefly tested my garage door opener with the Echo, but then disabled it when I was done. It just worried me a little too much that Alexa might open my garage door when I asked her to turn on the kitchen light.

Oh, and in addition to pulling pranks like turning on the thermostat when I ask for the hall light, Alexa is pretty good at telling jokes too.

13. Audio/Video/Multimedia Controller

Looking back, the programmable remote I purchased decades ago for my integrated television and surround sound/audio devices was an early step on the way to the promise of integrated home device control. At the time, it solved the daily ritual and riddle of remembering and selecting the needed inputs and devices required for watching TV, listening to a CD, radio, or playing a video game.

My how things have improved! Today, these multimedia controllers can do so much more than just allow you to select a single button to configure the perfect combination of devices for watching TV or playing music. You can now simultaneously toggle and dim lights at the same time you hit the universal “watch a movie” button on your remote to turn on the appropriate A/V components. Have your hands full carrying a snack to the couch, or just don’t want to bother with the button? By adding both a $50 Amazon Dot to the mix, you can use your voice to control your A/V system. Can’t find the remote at the moment when it’s time to leave the house? Just ask to have the television turned off as you are walking out the door.

Logitech continues to dominate the universal remote control market, and when it comes to integrating your smart home and audio-visual devices, nothing else can come close at a similar price point to the Logitech Harmony Hub.

The Harmony Hub seamlessly integrates your IR and WifI controlled television and A/V components with an optional RF remote, your mobile devices, several SmartHome systems including the SmartThings Hub, as well as cloud-based services such as IFTTT.

If you simply want to integrate your smart home with your television and A/V system, and you’re content with using your convention A/V remote(s) or your mobile device as a remote control, the Harmony Hub is all you need. I’m currently using the Harmony Hub and Companion remote combination as the basis for my family’s integrated smart home and A/V system, and have been quite impressed. The remote is solid, intuitive, and very responsive. One downside to the Companion remote is that it does not have an LCD display, so you will need to remember – and educate your family members on which remote buttons control which modes. If you’re willing to spend the extra money, and the family acceptance factor is important to you, or guests frequently use your system, the Harmony Elite remote provides a customizable LCD display with named buttons.

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13 Comments

My wife and I are designing a new home together to be built sometime in the Spring. I really liked this article, as it definitely gave me some helpful things to think about. I’d love to have light remote controlled switches and dimmers for the new house! Thanks for sharing these ideas.

Thanks Kyler. I appreciate the feedback. Enjoy the design process on the new home. I know how difficult it is to try and predict and future proof a new build, although wireless technologies certainly make this a bit easier now. Designing in an equipment closet, cabinet, or shelving unit for a router, automation, and storage network may be helpful, and ensuring adequate power feeds for security cameras and other devices may also come in handy. The best decision I made in my last new build was running conduit between main equipment locations so that I didn’t need to commit to specific cable types during framing. Good luck!

Thanks for the suggestion of, “Checking with your insurance company to find out if they offer discounts or credits for installing leak detection devices.” We just moved into a new home and would hate if we had a leak somewhere. I want to makes sure our home stays in good shape. I found another helpful article today, you can read it here: http://austinwaterproofing.com.au/2015/09/7-signs-of-a-hidden-leak-in-your-home/. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for sharing. It’s interesting to me how cars are required to be loaded with diagnostic, safety, and security sensors, but aside from low-tech smoke detectors, most homes have very little in the way of even primitive monitoring. I understand that the safety and liability requirements are different, but wow, from an investment perspective, a little vigilance and relatively inexpensive home sensors can pay for themselves many times over.

Thanks for this very good summary of what’s out there on the home automation market.
Really enjoy it.
While many people out there like to tinker (such as yourself), many others just want a plug & play solution.
Would the SmartThings2 hub be able to aggregate all the other components you listed so they can be used with the ST interface?

Or do you recommend using each component’s own UI (app or web UI) to handle their respective objective?

With the exception of the Smartcam HD Outdoor Camera, the SmartThings interface is able to aggregate all of the devices covered here to some degree – and is all that is needed to be installed on your mobile device. The camera is an interesting exception since it is made by Samsung, but unfortunately SmartThings operates as an independent company from Samsung and has little control over their product interfaces. Even with the SmartCam HD Pro, which is advertised as having SmartThings integration, you’ll still need the Samsung SmartCam app for basic motion detection and recording to the camera’s built-in memory card. For the devices that are Z-Wave or Zigbee only, the controlling hub’s interface (whether it be SmartThings or one of the other controllers) will be your only option for control.

I do try to minimize as best I can the number of apps installed on my phone, but in just a few cases, like with the Nest thermostat, I find myself using the native mobile device UI when I need to remotely control the thermostat, just because it is simple, clean and much more elegant that what can be achieved through the SmartThings UI.

Good article. I have almost all of the above items, but one thing that drives me crazy with the smarthings hub is the true battery life of the devices. I have a qwikset touchpad on all my entry doors and the front door last week showed 30% (I set an alert for under 25%-no notifications) then in a day it was at 1% (notification). My smoke alarms always show an amazing battery left then bang they start beeping to change batteries even though ST says its 77%. I pull the battery out to check it via ST to grab a new update -no change. I would be careful with using the actual battery life ST displays. Overall I am happy with ST, but small things like that drive me crazy.

Thanks for the response Eric. Excellent point regarding inaccurate reporting/prediction of battery life from these devices. Battery management is definitely one of the more toilsome aspects of home automation. Alkaline battery voltage appears to decrease more consistently over time compared to Lithium and NiMh batteries, which unfortunately may make the remaining % calculation even more unpredictable for many of these newer Lithium battery powered devices. Regardless of battery type, it’s an important point – particularly for safety critical devices, and I’ve updated the article to reflect your comments.

Sensative has just released their ultra-thin Strips Z-wave Plus door and window contact sensor for the US market. Although more costly than many other available sensors, my personal preference now would be to use Strips sensors instead of other door and window sensors for installations where these sensors can be appropriately installed and where aesthetics is of prime concern. See the DarwinsDen.com Strips Z-wave Plus Door and Window Sensor Review.

I’m interested in your comment regarding SmartThings (Samsung Camera) integration. Is there a camera on the horizon that will connect via Wifi ( Ethernet) and also send/receive z-wave signals. I am new to the home automation arena, and so far it seems the SmartThings hub has all the features/devices for my specific needs. The only area where I’m not convinced is the cameras, since in does not seem I could connect them (3 units planned) and have them be truly integrated with the Hub.

For example if a door opens have the camera record, or if a door sensor is tripped ( in alarm mode ) have the 3 cameras start recording simultaneously.

I have two camera systems, a Hikvision POE that works separate from ST Hub and a Ring Doorbell. The Ring just received access to the ST Hub and can not be connected. If I were to do everything all over again, I would go with the Ring and their security system. I am a big fan as the recording is clear, the motion sensor is accurate and overall it’s a simple setup. In addition the Ring just came out with ways to power using solar battery adapters so finding an outlet is not needed. It’s plug and play and good stuff. You might be able to set it up with IFTTT as well to do what you want. But in reality the Ring is always on and is cloud recording so you can log into your app to see whats happening. Plus you now can do a “live view” and see what is happening immediately.

Great article! My wife and I are building a place now too and want to integrate this stuff from the start. A few questions if you don’t mind…

1) What hardware do you have wall mounted in that first picture above? I’m looking for a clean solution and don’t want it to look like I’ve got an iPad or galaxy stuck to my wall

2) I really want a nice camera setup and am planning to hardwire several HD outdoor cameras. Is there a way to get these linked into smarttiles and display on the wall mounted panel? Even better, if someone pushed the doorbell, could I trigger and show that camera?

1) The home automation dashboard pictured in the SmartThings section is an older (previously unused iPad) mounted in a simple wood picture frame. I modified the frame by cutting down the size slightly and by notching out areas for the charging cable and buttons. There are several mounting bracket options available on Amazon, but I really liked the resulting simple classic look of the wood picture frame mounting.

If you need to purchase a tablet, the Kindle Fire 7 and 8 are very popular lower cost options for wall mounted home automation dashboards. For continuous power, I know many people install dedicated outlouts behind their wall mounts or snake usb charge cables down their walls to outlets below, but I am not a licensed electrician and really can’t recommend an option here or comment on how this would fit with local electrical safety/codes.

2) SmartTiles web app (now ActionTiles) supports multiple options for displaying video from security cameras, but compatibility depends on the interface options available for your camera. Unfortunately, ActionTiles does not currently support RTSP video feeds. I use a Hikvsion NVR to integrate my HD camera security system and am very happy with it. The HikVision NVR provides a simple URL for obtaining single frame images from the cameras, and I’ve set up SmartTiles to simply grab the images every few seconds for display. It’s not continuous motion, but works for my needs since I also have a separate wall monitor connected directly to the NVR for live display of all my camera feeds. I’m not aware of a way with ActionTiles to dynamically control which camera feeds are displayed based on events such as a doorbell press, but this sounds like a great feature. If ActionTiles doesn’t currently support it, it may a feature they would be interested in adding if you contact them.

Thanks again, and congratulations and good luck with the new home build!